Stabilization of aircraft.



C. A. JOHA-NSSON.

STABILIZATION 0F AIRCRAFT.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. Is, 1916.

1,223,698. Patented Apr. 24, 1917.

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UNTTE STATES PAENT nine,

CARL ALFRED JOI-IANSSON, OF CI-IRISTIANIA, NORWAY.

STABILIZATION 0F AIRCRAFT.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL ALFRED J OHANS- son, residing in tne city of Christiania, Norway, a subject of the King of Norway, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Stabilization of Aircraft, of which the following is a specification.

-My invention relates to an improved stabilization device for air-crafts of the type having an extra frame (stability frame) pivotally mounted on the machine frame.

The invention is distinguished by the following features:

The suspension of the body or carriage on the machine frame in such a manner, that said carriage by its weight acts on the stability frame to keep the latter in vertical position, said carriage being attached to bars or rods guided in vertical guides on the stability frame, while the connection of the carriage with said bars is controlled by springs acting in the longitudinal direction of the machine to keep the carriage in central position, the stability frame carrying horizontal steering planes which are connected to the machine frame in such a manner that by the tilting of the machine frame the said planes or rudders are in a position to be acted upon by the air to restore the machine frame to normal position, further the carrying or hearing plane is connected to the machine frame in such a manner that the aft-end of the plane can move to both sides and at the same time be lowered.

The invention is explained on the appended drawings, in which is shown diagrammatically the principal parts of a flying machine. Figure 1 is side view of the machine with the parts in normal position. Fig. 2 same view with the machine frame tilted forward, F 3 end-view from behind, and Fig. 4 is top-view.

The sides of the machine frame are each composed of the horizontal members 1, 2 and P vertical members 3, 4; the sides are connected by transverse members 5, 6 at front and back. The sides of the stability frame are composed of the horizontal members 7, 8 and vertical members 9, 10 and 10; the sides are connected by transverse members 11, 12 at front and back. The two frames are connected by a central shaft 13, the frames being thus free to swing independently of each other. around said shaft. The

vertical members 9, 10 are made to form guides for rods or bars 14, 15. Said bars Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 18, 1916.

Patented Apr. 24, 1917.

Serial No. 72,759.

have on their bottom end cross-pieces 16, 17

and the latter have at each end uprights 18, 19, 18, 19 serving as bearings for horizontal rods 20, 21. On said rods are mounted slides 22, 23 which are kept in a middle position by springs 24, 25, 24, E25, and which serve as support for the body or carriage 26. The bars 14, 15 are connected to the machine frame by bolts 27, 28 engaging slots 29, 30 in the member 1. The stability frame is provided with horizontal planes or rudders 31, 32 having pivots 33, 34 in engagement with slots 35, 36. Said rudders are connected to members 37, 38 on the machine frame; said members being slidable and kept in position by cords 39, 40 running over rollers 41, 42, 43, 44 to a drum 45 to be operated by hand.

Supposing that for some reason the machine frame is tilted forward, the several parts of the machine will then for a moment assume the position shown in Fig. 2. By the increased speed, the carriage 26 is on account of its inertia retarded, its center of gravity will come behind the center line in w, and by its weight sets up a couple of forces which would turn the stability frame backward, but then the compressed springs 25, 25 exert a pressure against the uprights 19, 19 which will counteract said turning. The horizontal rudders 31, 32 are placed in a position in which the air-pressure, indicated by the arrows, will lift the front-end of the machine frame and depress the hindend, thereby restoring the frame to normal position.

By an ascending movement of the machine, when the speed will be reduced, the lnertia of the carriage 26 will cause the latter to run ahead and its center of gravity will come in front of the center-line 05-00;

the couple of forces set up will in the same way as above be counteracted by the springs 24, 24.

The carrying or bearing plane 46 is connected to the machine frame at the front by a universal joint 47 of any known type and at the back by a cross-guide consisting of a T-piece 48 secured to the bearing plane, said T-piece having a vertical guide-slot 49 and a horizontal guide-slot 50 engaging studs 51, 52 on the machine frame. By the arrangement of a cross-guide the bearing plane will by a side movement not only be tilted, see Fig. 3, but the back-end of the plane will also be moved to the side, see dotted lines in Fig. 4E, and thereby present to that side the largest bearing surface, and it is also lowered slightly at the back so that the front edge will cut the air at an angle to make the air-pressure lift the plane. The arrangement of the cross-guide has the advantage that the double engagement of the two studs will steady the movements of the plane, which cannot be obtained with a single connecting link.

The bearing plane and the T-guide are shown in their preferred V-shaped form, but it should be understood that they may be straight as well and yet work in the described manner.

The arrangement of the horizontal rudders 31, 32 may be varied to suit the circumstances; thus they may be placed below the bearing plane or even both above and below the same.

What I claim is:

1. In a flying machine, the combination of a machine frame with a stability frame, means for connecting both frames, horizontal rods in said stability frame, slides on said rods, means for keeping said slides in their central positlon, a carriage, horlzontal rudders on the stabihty frame connected to said machine frame, means for operating said to cause the machine to move back into its.

normal position, substantially as described. 2. In a flying machine, the combination of a main frame with a stability frame, a central shaft connecting both frames, horizontal rods in said stability frame, slides on said rods, springs for keeping said slides in their central position, a carriage supported by said rods and horizontal rudders on the stability frame connected to the machine frame, and means for operating said rudders by hand, a. bearing plane, a universal joint connecting said plane at the front with said main frame, and a slotted cross-guide con necting said plane at the rear to said main frame, and studs on the main frame guided in the slots of the cross-guide, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I afliX my slgnature m presence of two witnesses.

CARL ALFRED JOHANSSON.

Witnesses:

C. FABRIcIUs HANSEN, N. G. TAUDBERG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

